Can a Bar of Soap in Your Bed Really Prevent Charley Horses?

by SELF Staffers



photo by Dan Drury
photo by Dan Drury

SELF's on-call doctor, Harry Lodge, M.D., gets to the bottom of this health question.

Putting a bar of Irish Spring under your bottom bedsheet to fend off charley horses is an old wives' tale -- sorry, but there's no science to back it up and no real explanation why it might work. Yet some people swear by it, and it can't hurt to try it. Hey, your bed will smell nice!

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The real way to prevent muscle cramps? Treat the underlying cause. Cramps happen when muscles are tired or tense, when you're short on minerals like calcium and magnesium (they play a key role in muscle function) or when you're dehydrated, which explains why they tend to strike while you're asleep -- you haven't had water for a while. Try stretching or taking a hot bath before bed to unknot tight muscles. During the day, drink plenty of water and eat foods rich in magnesium (almonds, spinach) and calcium (milk and kale).

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